Jojo JoJo is the audience’s link to the story. The audience follows the narrative through his eyes (he’s also referred to as Child), so it’s most important to cast a young person with an earnest and open disposition. Great singer and actor.
The Cats The Cats (Cat 1, Cat 2, Cat 3) are mischievous, spirited creatures who take JoJo and the audience on quite an adventure. Cast three actors, male or female, with great singing chops and who can move well. Since the Cats take on different roles throughout the play, these actors should be bold, versatile and able to switch roles at the drop of a dime.
Horton Horton is a loveable elephant with a heart of gold. Cast a young performer who can sing well and convey great loyalty and conviction to the Whos.
Mr. Mayor Mr. Mayor is the mayor of Whoville and the perfect picture of patriarchy. He tries to keep the town happy and secure, which is quite a job since the tiny Whos are always in danger of being swept away and lost. Cast a young man who can portray an older age and a sense of authority.
Mrs. Mayor Mrs. Mayor is the mayor’s wife and is most concerned with trying to make sure her son, JoJo, stays in line. Cast a fine singer and actor complementary of Mr. Mayor and JoJo, whose voice blends well with Mr. Mayor.
Gertrude McFuzz Gertrude McFuzz is a bird with tail envy! Cast a great performer who can sing, act and is a perfect match for Horton.
Mayzie LaBird Mayzie LaBird is a sneaky bird who tricks Horton into helping her take care of her egg. Cast a young woman who can express a fun, jovial and careless spirit.
Sour Kangaroo and Young Kangaroo Sour Kangaroo is as sour as a kangaroo can be. Cast a young woman who can sing and act well and can serve up a good deal of attitude. Feel free to cast a younger performer in the role of Young Kangaroo, who could be played by a boy or girl. They should function well as a pair.
Wickersham Brothers The Wickersham Brothers (Wickersham 1, Wickersham 2, Wickersham 3) are a trio of trouble-making monkeys! Cast three boys or girls who can make strong physical choices, complement one another well and bring a strong, diverse energy to their mischief.
Judge Yertle Judge Yertle the turtle presides over Horton’s court proceedings. This is a fun role for a performer who can make strong acting choices.
Vlad Vladikoff Vlad Vladikoff is an eagle who drops Whoville into a field of clovers! Cast a young performer who has a great sense of comedy and can make strong acting choices in this fun cameo role.
Ensemble The Whos, Jungle Citizens (1-5), Fish, the Wickershams, the Talk Show Host and Marshal are all essential roles for creating the vivid and imaginative world of Seuss. Each creature or person should embody the characters with bold choices and a strong connection to the rest of the players.
sides
Side One ~ Horton and Jojo HORTON (casually, to his clover) Hello... hello?
JOJO (startled) Hello?
HORTON Who's there?
JOJO It's me, JoJo. The Mayor's son.
HORTON I'm Horton. The Elephant.
JOJO Are you real, or are you a very large Think?
HORTON Oh, I'm real, all right. I would state that in ink.
JOJO In my Thinks, I imagine a lot of strange things, and I go to strange places, as if I had wings! I love a good Think!
HORTON Well, for me that goes double.
JOJO Sometimes my Thinks are what get me in trouble.
HORTON When you think, do you dream?
JOJO In bright colors!
HORTON Me, too.
HORTON And I go to strange places. Like Solla Sollew!
JOJO When you think, do you think you could fly to the stars?
HORTON Little friend, no one else could have Thinks such as ours!
Side Two ~ Cat 1, 2, and 3 (If you are auditioning for one of the Cats, just read all the Cat lines for your audition) CAT 1 Horton soon heard a voice, Calling over and over--
MR. MAYOR Help!
CAT 2 So he tried to think Who might be down on that clover.
CAT 3 An invisible world! Amazing but true! And guess who now enters the story?
CHILD Who?
CATS You!
SIDE 3 ~ Judge Yertle JUDGE YERTLE Based on the evidence, I have no choice but to order the defendant, Horton the Elephant, remanded to the Nool Asylum for the criminally insane. And as for the dust speck... it will boil in a hot steaming kettle of beezlenut oil.
Side 4 ~ Mr. and Mrs. Mayor MR. MAYOR JoJo! I’m the Mayor of Who. Why, I’ve just been elected. And upright behavior is thus forth expected.
MRS. MAYOR We’ve just had a talk with your teachers today— And they didn’t have one single good thing to say!
MR. MAYOR Your Thinks were so wild they disrupted your classes.
MRS. MAYOR And made Mrs. Mackel-Who drop her new glasses.
MR. MAYOR Now Horton has found us. We’re safe on a clover. But clearly our troubles are far, far from over.
MRS. MAYOR We don’t mean to scold you. We love you, oh, yes, dear. But couldn’t you try thinking just a bit less, dear?
Side 5 ~ Gertrude GERTRUDE I’m Gertrude McFuzz, and I live right next door. He’s never done anything crazy before. He’s always been friendly and loyal and kind. I just don’t believe Horton’s out of his mind!
Side 6 ~ Mayzie MAYZIE I’m Mayzie LaBird And I live in that tree. Enough about Horton. Let’s talk about me!
Side 7 ~ Sour and Young Kangaroo SOUR KANGAROO Humpf!... humpfed a voice. ’Twas the Sour Kangaroo. And the Young Kangaroo in her pouch said:
YOUNG KANGAROO “Humpf!” too!
SOUR KANGAROO Why, that speck is as small as the head of a pin. A person on that? Why, there never has been!